The Meaning of Zechariah 14:11 Explained

Zechariah 14:11

KJV: And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

YLT: And they have dwelt in her, And destruction is no more, And Jerusalem hath dwelt confidently.

Darby: And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; and Jerusalem shall dwell safely.

ASV: And men shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more curse; but Jerusalem shall dwell safely.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And [men] shall dwell  in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction;  but Jerusalem  shall be safely  inhabited. 

What does Zechariah 14:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

People would live in millennial Jerusalem. Jerusalem would never again suffer depopulation by being put under the curse (or ban, Heb. herem). Canaanite cities placed under the ban were totally destroyed ( Joshua 6:17-18). In other words, the city and those in it would enjoy security because Jerusalem would never again suffer destruction.

Context Summary

Zechariah 14:1-21 - "at Evening Time It Shall Be Light"
We can hardly doubt that in Zechariah 14:1-21, Zechariah is anticipating the same events as Ezekiel describes in Ezekiel 38:1-23; Ezekiel 39:1-29 of his remarkable book. At first the attack of the enemies of God's people will be entirely successful, then Jesus will appear to them and for them. There will be a literal fulfillment of Acts 1:11 and Isaiah 25:9-10. It was when his brethren were in their greatest straits that Joseph made himself known to them, and when the Jews are in dire extremity, they will hear Him say, "I am Jesus your Brother." See Genesis 45:1-15. Finally the long stormy days of Israel's history will be over forever, and "at evening time it shall be light." It is clear that Paul's vision in Romans 11:1-36 is to be gloriously realized [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 14

1  The destroyers of Jerusalem destroyed
3  The coming of Christ, and the graces of his kingdom
12  The plague of Jerusalem's enemies
16  The remnant shall turn to the Lord;
20  and their spoils shall be holy

What do the individual words in Zechariah 14:11 mean?

And [The people] shall dwell in it and [utter] destruction no shall there be longer but shall be inhabited Jerusalem safely
וְיָ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֔הּ וְחֵ֖רֶם לֹ֣א יִֽהְיֶה־ ע֑וֹד וְיָשְׁבָ֥ה יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם לָבֶֽטַח

וְיָ֣שְׁבוּ  And  [The  people]  shall  dwell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בָ֔הּ  in  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
וְחֵ֖רֶם  and  [utter]  destruction 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵרֶם 
Sense: a thing devoted, thing dedicated, ban, devotion.
לֹ֣א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִֽהְיֶה־  shall  there  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ע֑וֹד  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
וְיָשְׁבָ֥ה  but  shall  be  inhabited 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
לָבֶֽטַח  safely 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֶּטַח  
Sense: security, safety adv.